meaning and early instances of ‘to wake up and smell the coffee’
USA, 1927—to face up to the realities of an unpleasant situation—popularised by American advice columnist Ann Landers (Esther Pauline Lederer – 1918-2002)
Read MoreCategory: USA & Canada
meaning and origin of ‘nothing to write home about’
USA, 1905—unremarkable or mediocre—based on the image of something that is worth writing to one’s friends or family at home about
Read Moremeaning and origin of ‘you ain’t seen/heard nothing yet’
USA—‘you ain’t seen nothing yet’, 1897—‘you ain’t heard nothing yet’, first used by singer and actor Al Jolson in 1916
Read Moreorigin and meanings of ‘shotgun wedding’, or ‘shotgun marriage’
USA, 1878—an enforced wedding—from the fact that, on occasions, men were actually coerced at gunpoint into marriage
Read Morethe birth of some 19th-century advertising catchphrases
the origin of some famous catchphrases used in 19th-century advertising campaigns
Read Moremeaning and origin of the phrase ‘Benjamin’s portion’
UK, 1753—the largest share—alludes to Genesis, 43:34, where Benjamin receives the largest portion of food from his brother Joseph
Read Moreorigin of the phrase ‘the bitch goddess’ (material success)
11 September 1906 in a letter addressed to the English novelist H. G. Wells by the American philosopher and psychologist William James
Read Moremeaning and origin of the phrase ‘like turkeys voting for Christmas’
(of an action or decision) hopelessly self-defeating—UK, 1979, with reference to the Scottish National Party’s decision to vote with the Tories
Read Moremeaning, origin and early instances of ‘blonde moment’
USA, 1991—refers to the stereotypical perception of blonde-haired women as unintelligent
Read Moreorigin of ‘when the going gets tough, the tough get(s) going’
USA, 1953—originally a motto adopted by football coaches—has often been used humorously with variation of the main clause
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